Tama Sailor William Parks, Meskwaki Codetalkers to be featured at museum

December 6, 2017

The Tama County Historical Society and Genealogical Library, 200 North Broadway in Toledo, will have extended hours (1 7 p.m.) on December 7 which is "Remember Pearl Harbor Day."

The personal artifacts of Tama sailor William Parks and his story will be examined. Parks was attached to the U.S.S. Oklahoma (BB-37) but was not on board when the attack began. His belongings sank with the battleship and were returned to his family when the battleship was raised in 1943. These items were then donated to the historical society.

The stories of four Tama County sailors will be retold including that of William Kvidera of rural Toledo (pictured here). He is the only local sailor to actually die at Pearl Harbor. Please feel free to bring your pictures, post cards and news clipping from the Second World War to share.

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William (Bill Kvidera1st Taam County casualty of WWIIPhoto courtesy of Kennan Seda

The Meskwaki Code Talkers of World War II. They included (not necessarily in order pictured here) brothers Frank and Willard Sanache, Dewey Roberts, Edward Benson, Melvin Twin, Dewey Youngbear and brothers Judy Wayne Wabaunasee and Mike Wayne Wabaunasee. A Code Talker presentation by Robin Roberts will be made ta 6 p.m. at the Tama County Historical Society Museum on Dec. 7.

Naval photograph documenting the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which initiated US participation in World War II. Navy’s caption: Abandoning ship aboard the USS CALIFORNIA after the ship had been set afire and started to sink from being attacked by the Japanese in their attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Photo from National Archives

The contributions of "code talkers" will also be discussed including the eight men from the Meskwaki settlement near Tama.

A presentation by Robin Roberts will take pace at 6 p.m.

For more information, contact the museum at (641) 484-6767.

Article Map

William Kvidera:

William (Bill) Kvidera was the first from Tama County to be killed in World War II. The V.F.W. post in Tama is named in his honor.

When he enlisted, his parents lived in Carroll Township and had a Toledo mailing address; however, they moved to Howard County (Lime Springs) and were there when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The notices from the U.S. Navy were delayed because the mail had to be forwarded from Toledo to Lime Springs.

NOTE: My family has this photo because we are good friends with the Kvidera family. One of Bill's five brothers was the best man at my parents' wedding.